"Halloween is Coming Tonight"

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Portrait Session

This past weekend, my kids took portraits with their 1-year old cousin in their Halloween costumes at Picture People.  It was such a fun idea and the results are so cute!

We even got a shot of my two kids looking quite loving towards each other!  (I must capture and remember as many of these moments as possible.)

But at some point, a 1-year old is bound to crack!

Do you have any funny Halloween pictures?  If you do, we'd love for you to share them with us and post them on our Facebook wall.

We've been boo-ed...Have you?

Much to my surprise this weekend, I found an adorable pumpkin full of goodies on our doorstep. There was a note that said that we've been boo-ed.  I've done this at school where the teachers would do it for classrooms, but I've never done it with our neighbors. It is so much fun. 

I love the idea of not knowing what friendly neighbor chose you. Our Halloween tote was filled with a yummy pumpkin cupcake kit, some festive decorations and reflectors for Halloween night. You only have 2 days to return the fun, so I quickly ran to the store to find some spooky treats to return the favor to another family. I put together two totes filled with Halloween socks, crafts, glitter glue, pencils, erasers, and candy, of course! Early Sunday morning, I crept up the walk of 2 families I had in mind. The first was an easy drop, but the next a big black cat was on the porch. I was too nervous to leave a basket full of candy on the porch since the cat didn't move when I went up to the door. I ran back to the car and picked another neighbor around the corner. I sure hope the first house didn't see me! I'll have to put together something special for those kids when they come trick or treating:) 
Join in on the neighborly fun, you still have a few days left until Halloween! 

Boo to you too!

Here are some links for the Boo-ed printables...

http://tomkatstudio.blogspot.com/2010/09/halloween-free-printable-boo-sign.html

http://swtboutique.blogspot.com/2012/09/being-booed.html

http://itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com/2011/10/8-versions-youve-been-booed-fun-treats.html

Posted by Liz

The Most Amazing Pumpkin Bread Ever!

Having a baking assistant is a must!

I'll let you in on my top secret recipe for pumpkin bread: It is the Libby's Pumpkin Bread Kit found in most retailers this fall. My mom and I have been making this pumpkin bread for years. This is our go to gift for everyone around the holidays. It comes in single and double boxes. The double boxes will make 2 large or 4 small loaves.

The trick is to add orange juice where it calls for water. I've never used the icing that it comes with because I find it sweet enough.

 To take this recipe over the top, add the large Guittard Milk Chocolate Chips. Be sure to make enough to share and keep for yourself! You have to try it, it is moist, delicious, and totally addicting. Everyone who tries it wants the recipe, but you never have to tell, it will be our little secret.

Posted by Liz

 

Halloween is for Treating AND Tricking

Last year, under the guidance of Jimmy Kimmel, I decided to play a little Halloween trick on my kids.  Watching my daughter's facial expression change still cracks me up!

Do you have any harmless and funny tricks you play on your kids for Halloween?

Candy Corn Cupcakes

I saw these on Pinterest and just had to try making them...yummy Candy Corn Cupcakes!  These cupcakes are perfect for Halloween or even just Fall entertaining.

I am not a big candy corn flavor fan (but I love the color combo), so I made the cupcakes with white cake mix and gave them the candy corn garnish on top. 

Wordless Wednesday: My Scarecrow

Jack-O-Lantern Brownies

Is it me, or does it seem like there is a resurgence of fun and yummy treats now that Halloween is quickly approaching?

With such wonderful inspiration out there, I decided to try a Halloween spin on brownies.  Jack-O-Lantern Brownies to be exact.

I only needed 4 things:

1. 1 box of brownie mix (Let's keep it real, people. Betty Crocker or Pillsbury can make just as good of a brownie as I could attempt to from scratch. But if you would prefer to make brownies from scratch, more power to you!)
2. 13x9 baking dish/pan
3. Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter
4. Reese's Mini Pieces baking candies

Update: Save 25% off Disney Costumes + Free Shipping

Earlier this week I mentioned that Disney Store has marked down most costumes and accessories by 25%. If you were hoping to order a costume or accessory online, you can also get FREE SHIPPING now through Sunday. Simply enter the promo code TREAT at checkout.

Super Cute DIY T-Shirts for Your Little Pumpkins

I love any chance to dress my girls up, especially if there is a photo opportunity involved.  This week we were excited about the seasonal opening of our local pumpkin farm. We've already been once this week wearing pumpkin tutus and on a last minute whim we decided to go again. Late the night before, I was searching their closet for something to wear. I came up with jeans and white t-shirt. I ran to Michaels, after putting the girls to bed, trying to find something cute to iron on the tees. Everything iron-on wasn't cutesy enough for my little ones so I browsed around the store looking for other options.

I picked up some great scrapbooking stickers that looked like patches that I thought would work, and then ran through the dollar section and found the perfect rhinestone stickers. For $1.50 it was just the right size and just enough sparkle to show up in pictures. I put them on the shirts the morning of and they lasted all day at the farm. Now I'll use the stickers in their scrapbook. I can't wait to go back and pick up the other shapes and styles they have. I plan on putting the adorable red apple sticker on the same shirt for our trip to Apple Hill. What a great and inexpensive way to DIY your own holiday tees.

{I purchased the t-shirt on sale from Old Navy for $5. My mom picked up a similar version at Wal-Mart for $3 and Kohl's currently has solid tees for Halloween. Check out our Facebook page for the 25% off friends and family coupon for Michaels.}


Posted by Liz

Save 25% off Halloween Costumes at the Disney Store

In anticipation of Halloween, costumes and accessories at the Disney Store are now 25% off!  This is a great opportunity to get a good deal on a Halloween costume or just save on a costume your little one has been wanting.  Unfortunately, not all costumes are on sale (ie. Rapunzel wedding dress) but many princess costumes and all the accessories are!

Halloween Costume Savings at Target

It isn't even September yet, but it is already time to start thinking about Halloween costumes. 

Target is offering $5 off to Facebook Fans (so if you don't like them already, you probably should!) when you spend $50 on costumes and costume accessories.  Simply use the promo code COSTUMEFB at checkout.  But hurry, this offer is only good online through this Saturday, August 25.

Mommy's Halloween Trick

Under the advisement of Jimmy Kimmel, I decided to tell the kids that the hubby and I ate all of their Halloween candy while they were sleeping.

Here are their reactions:

:

Please don't worry, no children, parents, feelings or animals were hurt during the filming of these videos! And both kids smiled and gave me a big hug when they realized I was joking!

Halloween - Another One Bites the Dust

The lead up to Halloween seems like an eternity, and then in just a few hours, the night's festivities are over! 

Here are some highlights from pumpkin carving to our cul de sac Halloween pizza party to trick-or-treating!

Rapunzel was so in character, she didn't even wear shoes!  (But mom put the kabash on that quickly!)

Halloween Costume Deliberations - Preschool Style

I love that kids just tell it like it is!

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Halloween Cookie Fun

 I baked them, and the kids decorated them! 

They had so much fun putting all the sprinkles and candy on the cookies.  The girls tended "over-accessorize" their cookies, while my son took more of a minimalist approach.

And voila!  We have the finished product!

Sure, there were sprinkles all over the kids, counter, and floor.  But that is what a Dust Buster is for!

Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treating Tip

When we went trick or treating last year with a 5-year old and nearly 3-year old, we decided to bring the double stroller, just in case they got tired. And this was certainly a good plan because there were a few times when there was a lot of walking and not many houses, and this was a great way to let them rest.

But that is not my tip.

My tip is what I wish I would have done last year, and what I am definitely doing next year. At this age, kids get tired from walking for a while, and they certainly get exhausted from carrying their candy buckets/bags. As a result, I had to carry their buckets in between front doors. (Yes, I know, that is when I should say that we have had enough trick or treating, but they wanted to keep going.)

I wished I had an additional plastic bag (perhaps from Target because their bags are nice and sturdy) to dump some of the candy from their buckets in so the kids could keep going. And that way, I don't end up carrying their candy!

Halloween Costume Option #1

{Costume purchased at Costco, only $15.49!!!}

Halloween, Here We Come

On Friday, the kids had two opportunities to wear their costumes. The first was bright and early in the morning at my son's elementary school Halloween parade. Naturally, our daughter had to wear her Snow White costume to the event as well.

She was amazed to see that our son's teacher was wearing the same Snow White costume. Like any true woman, at first she wasn't thrilled to be caught in a game of "who wore it best," but then she realized how cool it was and couldn't take her eyes off his teacher.

Then, later in the evening, the elementary school held its first Family Fun Night of the year, and of course, our kids had to wear their costumes to that as well. Notice, our son changed it up from morning to night. He is quite the man of mystery!

Now on to tomorrow night and the real deal: trick or treating!

Happy Halloween!

Jack-O-Lantern Pizzas + CPK Family Cookbook Giveaway

Happy first day of October! And now that October has begun, bring on the Halloween stuff!

Aren't these Jack-O-Lantern pizzas absolutely adorable? This is just one of the fun recipes in the CPK Family Cookbook. (Yes, CPK has cookbooks!)

Just to let you in on a little secret, the Jack-O-Lantern pizza is really pumpkin pie on pizza crust! Yummy!

To kick off October, one lucky HC&B reader has the opportunity to win a CPK Family Cookbook. (I don't know about you, but my Ze Fronk recipe book from PlayhouseDisney.com is getting pretty old, and the idea of a cookbook with fun recipes for the kids and I to make together sounds very refreshing.)

So here's how to enter:

• Post a comment here including your name and location (city/state)
• Please post your comment by Friday, October 8th at 11:59 PST
• Become a Follower of Houses, Couches and Babies to receive an additional entry (those that are already followers automatically receive an additional entry)
• For a third entry, "like" Houses, Couches and Babies on Facebook (again, if you already like HC&B on Facebook, you will automatically receive the third entry)

The winner will be randomly selected shortly after October 8. Please check back to see if you have won, as the winner will not be contacted.

If you would like to just buy the CPK Family Cookbook, just visit your nearest CPK location. 100% of the proceeds from your purchase of the cookbook will go to children's charities nationwide.

Oh, and here's the wonderful Jack-Lantern Recipe:

Ingredients: Pizza dough, confectioners’ sugar, pumpkin pie filling, mini chocolate chips, chocolate kisses, whipped cream, candy corn.

Preparation:

1) Place the sugar in a fine-mesh strainer and sift a then, even layer of sugar over the dough. This will caramelize as the pizza bakes

2) Transfer the pizza to the oven and bake for 5 min to set the dough. Once the crust has been partially cooked, spread with a thin layer of pumpkin pie filling and return to the oven for another 5 -10 minutes, or until the filling is set. Remove and allow the pizza to cool

3) Decorate the pizzas using mini chocolate chips to represent the vertical lines, whipped cream for the eyes and mouth, chocolate kisses for the eyeballs, and the candy corn for the teeth.